April 13, 2007

Spring Break with the Japan Law Society

As we've mentioned before, our students do a wide variety of things during Spring Break. One of the more law-related is a trip taken by the Japan Law Society to, you guessed it, Japan. Here's Sean Leonard '08 to tell you all about it.

"Did you know that the University of Chicago Law School is one of the best schools to learn about Japanese law and culture? As President of the Japan Law Society this year, I would like to tell you about one of the Society's major events.

"Last month, sixteen student delegates traveled to Japan on the Japan Law Society Spring Break Trip to Japan 2007, which we hold every two years. Trip participants visited key legal, financial, and politicalinstitutions in Japan, along with healthy doses of Japanese culture. Governmental sites included the Ministry of Justice, Fuchū Prison, the Supreme Court of Japan, Tokyo District Court, and the Bank of Japan. The visit to Fuchū Prison offered a rare glimpse into the Japanese criminal justice system that few international legal practitioners get to see. Two of the largest law firms in Japan, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, were kind enough to host us. Our visits to these Japanese firms and to the international firm Paul Hastings permitted us to learn about the details of domestic and international legal practice in Japan.

"The trip planning is spearheaded by our 2L and 3L board members, along with the generous time and energy of active Japanese alumni of the Law School who help arrange the trip. Our alumni liaisons provide us with insiders' views on law and policymaking in Japan.

"If you are interested in reading more, take a look at our full itinerary, including pictures."